Terms of service

Last updated October 15, 2026

1. Who we are

YardHound is operated by Mike Banta, a sole proprietor in Spokane, Washington ("YardHound", "we", "us"). These terms are an agreement between you and us. By creating an account or using the YardHound app or website, you agree to them. If you don't agree, don't use YardHound.

2. What YardHound is

YardHound is a marketplace. Homeowners post individual yard jobs; independent workers accept or bid on them; we handle verification, the payment between them and the record of the job.

• Workers are not our employees or agents. Each worker is an independent person who decides whether to take a job, what to bid and how to do the work. We don't supervise, direct or control the work.
• Workers are amateurs. Many are teenagers. They aren't licensed, bonded or insured professionals unless they tell you otherwise. Homeowners acknowledge this before posting.
• The agreement to do a job is between the homeowner and the worker. We're not a party to it, except for handling the payment as described below.

3. Who can use it

• Homeowners must be 18 or older and responsible for the property where the work happens (an owner, renter, adult family member or manager).
• Adult workers must be 18 or older.
• Workers aged 14 to 17 may use YardHound only with a linked, verified parent or legal guardian, as described in section 5. Nobody under 14 may use YardHound.
• YardHound currently operates in Washington State. You must be in the United States to use it.
• One account per person. You're responsible for keeping your login secure and for everything done through your account.
• Anyone with a sex offense conviction may not use YardHound in any role.

4. Verification

• Every adult verifies their identity with a government ID and a selfie through Stripe Identity, under Stripe's own terms.
• Homeowners and adult workers also authorize us to search Washington State criminal conviction records and sex offender registries using the name and date of birth Stripe verified, and every job address is checked against the sex offender registry. The standards are listed on our Safety page. Results are reviewed by a person against those fixed standards.
• Homeowners and adult workers pay a one-time verification fee, currently $13, refunded if the check is denied and otherwise returned as a credit on the second job, as described in our refund policy.
• You must give accurate information. Giving false identity or age information is grounds for permanent removal.
• Verification lowers risk. It isn't a guarantee of anyone's character or conduct.

5. Guardians and minors

• A worker under 18 must link one parent or legal guardian. The guardian must be 18 or older, verify their identity, set up the payout account and accept the guardian terms in the app. By linking, the guardian confirms they are the minor's parent or legal guardian and consents to the minor using YardHound under these terms.
• The guardian approves every job before the minor's acceptance or bid is sent, sets the days and hours the minor may work, can see the minor's jobs, bids, payouts, reviews and work zones, and can pause the minor's worker profile.
• Payments for a minor's work are paid to the guardian's payout account.
• Job types available to minors are limited by age. Guardians are responsible for deciding whether a job is suitable for their child.
• The guardian link ends automatically when the worker turns 18. To keep working, they complete adult verification.

6. Posting a job

• A job is defined by what the homeowner posts: the outlined work area, the job details, the hazard brief, what the homeowner provides, the time window and the price. Anything outside the outline isn't part of the job.
• Homeowners set the price, or ask for bids. Suggested price ranges are reference only. We don't set prices.
• Every post stays up for the posting window the homeowner chooses (12 hours to 3 days). The homeowner picks any worker who responded, at any time inside the window, or closes the post. If nobody is picked, the post expires and nothing is charged.
• Don't post work that requires a license, permit or professional equipment (tree felling, electrical, irrigation repair, roof work, pesticide application) or work that is unsafe or illegal for the worker's age.

7. Hazards and risk

Before a job goes live, the homeowner completes a hazard checklist and marks each hazard on the yard map, with a photo. At the house, the worker acknowledges and photographs each marked hazard before starting.

• Undisclosed hazards are the homeowner's risk. If something the homeowner didn't disclose (or disclosed without a photo) is damaged, or causes damage, that's the homeowner's responsibility.
• Disclosed and acknowledged hazards are the worker's risk. If the worker damages a hazard that was disclosed with a photo and that they acknowledged on site, that's the worker's responsibility.
• Homeowners are responsible for keeping pets secured, providing access as described, and making sure any equipment they provide is safe to use.
• Workers are responsible for their own conduct and for stopping work if conditions are unsafe.

8. Doing a job

• Workers check in at the property within the scheduled window, complete the hazard walk and before photos, do the work and take after photos.
• A worker may stop a job at any time for a listed reason. If something was damaged, the worker must report it in the app.
• Either side can propose a new time. If the other side declines, the cancellation rules apply.
• Messages about a job must stay in the app. Contact details aren't allowed in posts, bids or profiles before a job is awarded.

9. Prices, fees and payment

• The homeowner pays the job price plus a 10% service fee, plus Washington sales tax when it applies. The worker receives the job price less a 10% service fee. Fees are calculated on the amount actually paid for the work.
• The homeowner's card is charged when they pick a worker. Payments are processed by Stripe. YardHound collects the payment on the worker's behalf, holds it until the job is approved, and then pays the worker through Stripe Connect.
• A completed job is approved when the homeowner approves it or 72 hours after the worker marks it done, whichever comes first.
• Workers and guardians receiving payouts must accept the Stripe Connected Account Agreement, which includes the Stripe Services Agreement. Payouts are subject to Stripe's timing. Instant payouts to a debit card, where available, cost the worker 1.5%.
• Tips are optional, go entirely to the worker and are not refundable once sent.
• Washington treats YardHound as a marketplace facilitator. Where sales tax applies, we collect and remit it.

10. Cancellations and refunds

Cancellations, no-shows, turn-aways, stopped jobs and refunds follow our Refunds and cancellations policy, which is part of these terms. In short: a refund keeps 3% to cover processing costs, except a worker no-show, which is refunded in full; and the worker is paid 0%, 25% or 100% of the job price depending on whether they had checked in or started.

11. Disputes between users

• A homeowner may dispute a job in the app within 72 hours of it being marked done. We review the job's record and release, refund or split the payment in 10% steps.
• Ties go to the worker. Unless the record clearly shows the job wasn't done as posted, or a disclosed and acknowledged hazard was damaged, the payment is released.
• Either side may contest a decision once within 7 days. A different reviewer decides, and that decision is final for the payment on YardHound.
• Our decision only decides where the held payment goes. It doesn't limit any legal rights you have against the other user, for example for property damage.
• Please contact us before filing a chargeback with your bank.

12. Rules of conduct

You agree not to:

• Arrange or pay for a job you found on YardHound outside YardHound, or ask someone to
• Harass, threaten, discriminate against or behave inappropriately toward anyone, and especially toward a minor
• Ask a minor to work outside their guardian's approved hours, do anything their guardian didn't approve, or meet outside the job
• Provide false information, impersonate anyone, or use another person's account
• Post work that is illegal, unsafe or outside the outlined area, or ask a worker to do work that wasn't posted
• Interfere with the app, scrape it, or try to get around verification, limits or fees

13. Ratings, reports and suspension

• Both sides rate each other after a job. Ratings must be honest and about the job.
• We may suspend an account automatically when ratings, reliability or reports pass our thresholds. A person reviews every suspension before it becomes permanent, and you can submit a statement.
• A report about the safety of a minor, or about identity or age fraud, immediately pauses the reported account's new activity while we review it.
• We may remove anyone who breaks these terms or puts others at risk. Money already earned for completed work is still paid.
• We may share information with law enforcement when we believe someone's safety is at risk or the law requires it.

14. Taxes

Workers are independent contractors and are responsible for their own income taxes. Stripe may issue tax forms for payouts that meet federal reporting thresholds. Homeowners don't become employers by hiring through YardHound.

15. Disclaimers and limits on liability

• YardHound is provided "as is". We don't guarantee the quality, safety or legality of any job, the conduct of any user, or that the app will always be available or free of errors.
• To the extent the law allows, we aren't liable for injury, property damage or loss arising from a job or from dealings between users, or for indirect or consequential damages. Our total liability to you for any claim is limited to the fees you paid YardHound in the 12 months before the claim, or $100, whichever is greater.
• You agree to hold us harmless from claims that arise from your own conduct, your property or your breach of these terms.
• Nothing in these terms limits rights you have that can't be limited under Washington law.

16. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington. Any legal dispute with YardHound will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Spokane County, Washington, unless the law requires otherwise. You may also bring a claim in small claims court.

17. Changes and ending

• We may update these terms. When we do, we'll change the date above and ask you to accept the new version in the app before you continue.
• You can delete your account at any time, as described on Delete your account. Jobs, payments and disputes already in progress finish first.
• If YardHound becomes an LLC or other company, these terms will move to that company, and we'll tell you.

18. Contact

Questions about these terms: [email protected].